Naxos
Handel: Harpsichord Suites Nos. 6-8 Alan Cuckston
$19.99
Details
- Composer
- HANDEL
- Artist
- Alan, Cuckston
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Nov 06, 1990
- Catalog #
- 8550416
- UPC
- 730099541626
About
The harpsichord used in this collection is a modern instrument designed by the American David Way and it incorporates features of many French 18th century harpsichords.
I am indebted to Alan Cuckston for playing this repertoire in a 'straight' way. Too many players are so bogged down by fruitless attempts to produce 'authentic performances' that they miss the spirit of the music. Their playing is therefore inhibited and has three main annoying quirks at least. Firstly, they make far too much of ornamentation so that the essential mordents, trills and shakes are given such a dramatic exaggeration that they stand out like angry spots upon a blemished face. Mr Cuckston's ornamentation is beautifully incorporated into the natural flair of the music. Secondly, some players are afraid of lively speeds for the quicker movements ... I suspect it is because they do not have the requisite finger technique ... and so the music does not come to life. But, in these performances, it does. Thirdly, some players indulge in grinding rallentandos and, to make matters worse, hang on to cadences for an inordinate length of time so that if a cadence is crotchet, crotchet rest and crotchet at say allegro, which should take just over one second, it can take more than five times as long and has the nauseating aural effect like unto some servile servant apologising to his master, and most profusely, while backing out of his presence.
Mr Cuckston does observe some rallentandos but there is not this excess, this ghastly self-indulgence and musical fetishes!
But here Handel comes alive and surely all music should be both vibrant and alive. Players can kill music for reasons I have already mentioned and no corpse is ever pleasant and it certainly cannot communicate.
The energy and reliability of these performances are exemplary. The F sharp Suite is beset with all sorts of problems but they are not revealed here. The F minor Suite has splendid fugue and, as I have said before, couldn't Handel write a good fugue untrammelled by academia which sometimes the fugues of the great J.S. Bach may be.
The shorter pieces are a delight particularly the Capriccio and more so when it is played with such panache as this. The Air and Variations were the subject of Brahms's great Variations on a Theme of Handel (do investigate the brilliant recording by Peter Katin on Athene (ATH CD 9)).
A thoroughly enjoyable disc beautifully played and well-recorded. And all players of Handel should note. Play Handel like this and you and your audiences will reap deserved awards.
-- David Wright, MusicWeb International
I am indebted to Alan Cuckston for playing this repertoire in a 'straight' way. Too many players are so bogged down by fruitless attempts to produce 'authentic performances' that they miss the spirit of the music. Their playing is therefore inhibited and has three main annoying quirks at least. Firstly, they make far too much of ornamentation so that the essential mordents, trills and shakes are given such a dramatic exaggeration that they stand out like angry spots upon a blemished face. Mr Cuckston's ornamentation is beautifully incorporated into the natural flair of the music. Secondly, some players are afraid of lively speeds for the quicker movements ... I suspect it is because they do not have the requisite finger technique ... and so the music does not come to life. But, in these performances, it does. Thirdly, some players indulge in grinding rallentandos and, to make matters worse, hang on to cadences for an inordinate length of time so that if a cadence is crotchet, crotchet rest and crotchet at say allegro, which should take just over one second, it can take more than five times as long and has the nauseating aural effect like unto some servile servant apologising to his master, and most profusely, while backing out of his presence.
Mr Cuckston does observe some rallentandos but there is not this excess, this ghastly self-indulgence and musical fetishes!
But here Handel comes alive and surely all music should be both vibrant and alive. Players can kill music for reasons I have already mentioned and no corpse is ever pleasant and it certainly cannot communicate.
The energy and reliability of these performances are exemplary. The F sharp Suite is beset with all sorts of problems but they are not revealed here. The F minor Suite has splendid fugue and, as I have said before, couldn't Handel write a good fugue untrammelled by academia which sometimes the fugues of the great J.S. Bach may be.
The shorter pieces are a delight particularly the Capriccio and more so when it is played with such panache as this. The Air and Variations were the subject of Brahms's great Variations on a Theme of Handel (do investigate the brilliant recording by Peter Katin on Athene (ATH CD 9)).
A thoroughly enjoyable disc beautifully played and well-recorded. And all players of Handel should note. Play Handel like this and you and your audiences will reap deserved awards.
-- David Wright, MusicWeb International
Tracklist 24 tracks
-
1 I. Prelude 01:44
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Prelude
- Duration
- 01:44
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
2 II. Largo 01:45
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Largo
- Duration
- 01:45
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
3 III. Fugue 02:51
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Fugue
- Duration
- 02:51
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
4 III. Gigue 01:50
- Track
- 4
- Title
- III. Gigue
- Duration
- 01:50
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
5 I. Overture: Largo 02:57
- Track
- 5
- Title
- I. Overture: Largo
- Duration
- 02:57
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
6 II. Andante 03:30
- Track
- 6
- Title
- II. Andante
- Duration
- 03:30
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
7 III. Allegro 01:59
- Track
- 7
- Title
- III. Allegro
- Duration
- 01:59
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
8 IV. Sarabande 02:17
- Track
- 8
- Title
- IV. Sarabande
- Duration
- 02:17
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
9 V. Gigue 01:38
- Track
- 9
- Title
- V. Gigue
- Duration
- 01:38
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
10 VI. Passacaille 05:06
- Track
- 10
- Title
- VI. Passacaille
- Duration
- 05:06
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
11 I. Prelude 02:09
- Track
- 11
- Title
- I. Prelude
- Duration
- 02:09
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
12 II. Fugue 03:02
- Track
- 12
- Title
- II. Fugue
- Duration
- 03:02
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
13 III. Allemande 02:04
- Track
- 13
- Title
- III. Allemande
- Duration
- 02:04
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
14 IV. Courante 01:36
- Track
- 14
- Title
- IV. Courante
- Duration
- 01:36
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
15 V. Gigue 01:45
- Track
- 15
- Title
- V. Gigue
- Duration
- 01:45
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
16 Capriccio in F Major, HWV 481 04:32
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Capriccio in F Major, HWV 481
- Duration
- 04:32
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
17 I. Allemande 03:16
- Track
- 17
- Title
- I. Allemande
- Duration
- 03:16
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
18 II. Courante 02:05
- Track
- 18
- Title
- II. Courante
- Duration
- 02:05
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
19 III. Sarabande 04:35
- Track
- 19
- Title
- III. Sarabande
- Duration
- 04:35
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
20 IV. Gigue 01:18
- Track
- 20
- Title
- IV. Gigue
- Duration
- 01:18
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
21 Sonatina in D Minor 01:51
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Sonatina in D Minor
- Duration
- 01:51
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
22 Sonata in G Minor, HWV 580 02:13
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Sonata in G Minor, HWV 580
- Duration
- 02:13
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
23 Toccata in G Minor, HWV 586 01:09
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Toccata in G Minor, HWV 586
- Duration
- 01:09
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston
-
24 Keyboard Suite in B-Flat Major, HWV 434: III. Aria con variazioni 04:09
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Keyboard Suite in B-Flat Major, HWV 434: III. Aria con variazioni
- Duration
- 04:09
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Alan Cuckston